The structure determination of surface species has long been a challenge
because of their rich chemical heterogeneities. Modern tip-based microscopic
techniques can resolve heterogeneities from their distinct electronic, geometric,
and vibrational properties at the single-molecule level but with limited
interpretation from each. Here, we combined scanning tunneling microscopy (STM),
noncontact atomic force microscopy (AFM), and tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS)
to characterize an assumed inactive system, pentacene on the Ag(110) surface. This
enabled us to unambiguously correlate the structural and chemical heterogeneities
of three pentacene-derivative species through specific carbon-hydrogen bond
breaking. The joint STM-AFM-TERS strategy provides a comprehensive solution for
determining chemical structures that are widely present in surface catalysis,
on-surface synthesis, and two-dimensional materials.
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